Caldwell County MO Archives History .....AN OLD SCHOOL SONG AT LOVELY RIDGE SCHOOL 
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Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 8, 2008, 4:27 pm

AN OLD SCHOOL SONG AT LOVELY RIDGE SCHOOL
	Narrators:  Miss Lottie Martin, 68, and Mrs. Carrie Royer, 73

     It was in the very early eighties that Addie Martin of Hamilton taught in 
the Lovely Ridge district west of Hamilton.  She prepared as usual for the 
last day of school exhibitions.  She drilled them on a song which she 
composed, in part at least, including the names of her pupils.  However just 
before the last day, her sister the first Mrs. Tinsley Brown of Hamilton died 
and so the exercises were not held, but the song stayed on in the memory of 
the old pupils.  It is interesting as showing the old style of school songs 
and also it has kept the first names of some of the pupils.
     Here it goes:  We're a band of merry schoolmates
                    We're a band of merry schoolmates
                    We're a band of merry schoolmates
                    And we are all going home.

                    So to sing our parting song, to you
                    To sing our parting song, to you
                    To sing our parting song, to you
                    Dear friends, we now have come.

                    We have plucked the tree of knowledge
                    We have plucked the tree of knowledge
                    We have plucked the tree of knowledge
                    And ate its golden fruit.

                    We have exercised our powers
                    We have exercised our powers
                    We have exercised our powers
                    In many a different way.

                    And we'll tell you what we've studied
                    And we'll tell you what we've studied
                    And we'll tell you what we've studied
                    Through all the pleasant days.

                    There is reading spelling, writing
                    Which are always so inviting,
                    And arithmetic and history
                    With all its varied lore
                    And geology and botany, astronomy
                    And drawing, and philosophy, geography
                    And all so many more.

                    These have kept imagination
                    In its proper situation,
                    And have taught appreciation
                    Which we hope may yet appear.

                    We must not forget our singing
                    To our study pleasure bringing
                    While our voices loudly ringing
                    Raise the echo far and near.
                     


 
                    We're a band of merry schoolmates
                    We're a band of merry schoolmates
                    We're a band of merry schoolmates
                    And the names of some we'll tell.

                    There is Addie, Belle and Nannie
                    Carrie, Jessie, Anna, Lotta
                    Elliott, Rolla, George and Willie
                    And all so many more.

                    But the whole we cannot mention
                    Please excuse our long detention
                    Thank you for your kind attention
                    And we soon will say farewell

                    When we've spent a short vacation,
                    And enjoyed a recreation
                    Then again your approbation
                    We will seek, but now farewell.

     In the list of names, Addie was Addie McKee, Elliott was her brother, 
(now Mrs. Shaw of Kidder where her brother Elliot also lives), Belle was Belle 
Bray, Nannie Esteb and of course, Lotta and Carrie Martin, the narrators.
     Interview  December 1934.

Interviewer's note:  The reader of the above song may easily guess that it was 
only adapted by the teacher to local conditions, and that the song itself in 
its original use probably belonged to some "Institute" of higher learning.


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